General Pinochet

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any apologies were ever offered to General Pinochet following the non-disclosure of the connection between Amnesty International and Lord Hoffmann.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: No apology was made directly to Senator Pinochet. However, I refer the noble Lord to the article in The Times on 9 February 1999, where I was accurately quoted as saying "What we are talking about here is an error of judgment . . . It is very, very unfortunate. It has never happened before this century and I don't believe that it will happen again in 100 years.". I am sure that would have been read by Senator Pinochet or his advisers.

General Pinochet

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations have been made to the Spanish Government following the disclosure of the medical report on General Pinochet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Following receipt of a letter from Senator Pinochet's solicitors dated 16 February 2000 expressing concern about the leaking of the medical report in a Spanish newspaper, Home Office Officials wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service, as representatives of Spain, asking whether Spain could provide any information on how the report had been disclosed.
	A reply from the Spanish authorities on the same day indicated that enquiries which they had made did not make it possible for them to conclude that the leak had occurred in Spain, but expressed regret for any difficulty caused by the report's disclosure in the Spanish press.

General Pinochet

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following receipt of the medical report on General Pinochet, it is appropriate that demonstrators should be allowed to bang drums outside General Pinochet's house and keep him awake.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The policing of demonstrations is an operational matter for the local police, and is not a matter in which government Ministers can intervene.

General Pinochet

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they believe the length of time taken over the case of General Pinochet, during which time he has been detained, reflects well on the British system of justice.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Senator Pinochet has been held on bail for 16 months pending proceedings pursuant to an extradition request received from the Kingdom of Spain. This length of time reflects the opportunities to mount legal challenges and appeals, of which the parties to the request have availed themselves.

Chechnya: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are in touch with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning alleged torture and rape by Russian forces in and near Chechnya; and whether they are studying reports on these matters that appear in Le Monde and the Moscow Times.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are in regular contact with the UN High Commission for Human Rights concerning alleged human rights abuses in and around Chechnya. We are studying reports on such abuses from a number of sources, including from the UNHCR, the Council of Europe, NGOs and the media. During his recent visit to Moscow (22-23 February), the Foreign Secretary urged early contact between Mrs Robinson, the UN High Commissioner, and Mr Kalamanov, the recently appointed Russian president's special representative for human rights and civil liberties in Chechnya.

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Lord Christopher: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March; and whether they will list the major European Union events for the next six months.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: See separate list.
	This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
	Monthly Forecast of EU Business: March 2000
	March 28 February to 1 March--Lisbon--EuroMed Investment Conference
	-- Open Statements
	-- Panel Discussion
	-- Investing in an Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area
	-- Working Groups
	-- Doing Business in the Free Trade Area
	-- Promoting Investment in a Free Trade Area
	-- Investment Financing in the Mediterranean Region
	-- Presentation and Discussion of the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Working Group
	-- Conclusions and Recommendations
	-- Closing Statements
	-- Press Conference
	1 to 2 March--Brussels--European Parliament Plenary
	Consultation procedure
	-- (poss) Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the fisheries data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy
	-- (poss) Proposal for a Council decision on financial contribution from the Community towards the expenditure incurred by the Member States in collecting data, and for financing studies and pilot projects for carrying out the common fisheries policy
	-- (poss) Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 93/53/EEC introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases
	-- Proposal for a Council regulation amending for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No. 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean and for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms
	-- (poss) Initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision to combat child pornography on the Internet
	2--Lisbon--EU/Russian Ministerial Meeting
	-- EU-Russia relations
	-- Developments in Russia, including the Northern Caucasus
	-- Developments in the EU
	-- Western Balkans
	-- Mediterranean region and the Middle East Peace Process
	-- Preparation for the EU-Russia Summit
	3 to 4--Lisbon--Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)
	No formal agenda
	10--Tokyo--EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting
	No agenda yet available
	13--Brussels--Social Affairs Council
	-- Preparation of the special European Council in Lisbon
	-- Presidency paper on a Europe of innovation and knowledge
	-- Commission Communication on Community policies to promote employment (Article 127)
	-- Commission Communication on social inclusion
	-- Commission Communication on job strategies in the information society
	-- First Commission report on the social situation in Europe
	-- Commission proposals on Article 13
	-- Oral report from the Presidency on progress in negotiations
	13--Brussels--ECOFIN Council
	-- Adoption of the provisional agenda
	-- Approval of the list of "A" items
	-- Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact
	-- Preparation of the Lisbon European Council on Employment, Economic Reforms and Social Cohesion
	-- Towards a Europe based on Innovation and Knowledge, Lisbon, 23-24 March 2000
	-- (a) (poss) VAT: Postal Services
	-- Presentation of Commission proposal
	-- (b) Taxation of aircraft fuel
	-- Presentation of Commission communication
	-- Discharge of 1998 budget
	-- Presentation of Commission action plan to improve management and financial procedures
	-- AOB
	13 to 17--Strasbourg--European Parliament Plenary
	No agenda yet available
	16--Brussels--Internal Market Council
	No agenda yet available
	17--Lisbon--Informal Education Ministers Meeting
	No formal agenda
	17 to 18--Porto--Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal)
	No formal agenda
	20 to 21--Brussels--General Affairs Council
	No agenda yet available
	20 to 21--Brussels--Agriculture Council
	No agenda yet available
	23 to 24--Lisbon--Special European Council
	No formal agenda
	27--Brussels--Justice & Home Affairs Council
	No agenda yet available
	28--Brussels--Transport Council
	No agenda yet available
	29 to 30--Brussels--European Parliament Plenary
	No agenda yet available
	30--Brussels--Environment Council
	No agenda yet available
	This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
	
		European Calendar: March-August 2000 
		
			 Date Location Event 
			 March   
			 28 Feb to 1 Mar Lisbon EuroMed Investment Conference 
			 1 to 2 Brussels European Parliament Plenary 
			 2 Lisbon EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting 
			 3 to 4 Lisbon Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) 
			 10 Tokyo EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting 
			 13 Brussels Social Affairs Council 
			 13 Brussels ECOFIN Council 
			 13 to 17 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 
			 16 Brussels Internal Market Council 
			 17 Lisbon Informal Education Ministers Meeting 
			 17 to 18 Porto Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal) 
			 20 to 21 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 20 to 21 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 23 to 24 Lisbon Special European Council 
			 27 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 28 Brussels Transport Council 
			 29 to 30 Brussels European Parliament Plenary 
			 30 Brussels Environment Council 
			 April   
			 3 Luxembourg Fisheries Council 
			 3 to 4 Cairo EU-Africa Summit 
			 4 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council 
			 7 to 8 Lisbon ECOFIN Council (Informal) 
			 10 to 11 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 
			 10 to 14 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 
			 13 Luxembourg Consumer Affairs Council 
			 15 to 16 Oporto Environment Council (Informal) 
			 17 to 18 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 
			 May   
			 2 Brussels Telecommunications Council 
			 3 to 4 Brussels European Parliament Plenary 
			 5 to 7 San Miguel, Azores Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers 
			 8 Brussels ECOFIN Council 
			 8 Lisbon EU/New Zealand Ministerial Meeting 
			 11 Brussels Health Council 
			 15 to16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 15 to 16 Oporto WEU Council 
			 15 to 19 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 
			 16 Brussels Culture Council 
			 18 Brussels Industry Council 
			 18 Brussels Development Council 
			 22 to 23 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 25 Brussels Internal Market Council 
			 25 to 26 Lisbon EuroMed Foreign Ministers Meeting (Informal) 
			 28 to 30 Evora Agriculture Council (Informal) 
			 29 to 30 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 30 Brussels Energy Council 
			 June   
			 5 Luxembourg ECOFIN Council 
			 6 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council 
			 8 Luxembourg Education Council 
			 13 to 14 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 
			 13 to 16 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 
			 15 Luxembourg Research Council 
			 16 Luxembourg Fisheries Council 
			 19 to 20 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 
			 19 to 20 Sta. Maria da Feira European Council 
			 21 to 23 Cyprus 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Conference of the Ministers of Industry 
			 22 to 23 Luxembourg Environment Council 
			 26 to 27 Luxembourg Transport Council 
			 28 Lisbon EU/India Summit 
			 July   
			 3 to 7 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 
			 6 to 7 Lille Culture Council 
			 7 to 8 (To be confirmed) Social Affairs Council (Informal) 
			 10 to 11 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 15 to 16 (To be confirmed) Environment Council (Informal) 
			 17 Brussels ECOFIN Council 
			 17 to 18 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 24 Brussels Budget Council 
			 25 (To be confirmed) Education Council (Informal) 
			 27 Bangkok ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting 
			 28 to 29 Bangkok ASEAN Post Ministerial Meeting 
			 28 to 29 Arles Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) 
			  August There are no Councils scheduled for this month.

Arable Area Payments: Field Margin Measurement

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In which European Union countries, for the purpose of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) of the Common Agricultural Policy, accurate field areas are supplied by national governments to farmers; in which countries farmers are expected to engage surveyors at their own expense to measure field area; and whether they believe that the practice should be uniform within the European Union or whether it should differ under the concept of subsidiarity of the Maastricht Treaty.

Baroness Hayman: Agriculture ministries in most or all member states and regions of the European Union supply IACS claimants with area information about their land. This may take the form of a map, an aerial photograph, a printout showing areas of fields claimed in the previous year, or a combination of more than one of these. However, it is only farmers themselves who are in a position to determine the actual proportion of the total area of their land that they are entitled to use as the basis of their IACS claims each year, and throughout the EU it is they who are responsible for ascertaining what those areas are. The IACS regulations, rightly in the Government's view, do not prescribe uniformity in the determination of areas used for the basis of aid claims.
	Instead, member states have the option of allowing farmers to claim, where appropriate, the total area of a field as shown on an official map or alternatively the area actually utilised. The option of claiming the total field area has been of value to UK farmers, since it avoids the need for them to incur costs associated with determining actual cropped areas, but the European Commission has indicated that its continued availability can only be justified if the extent of uncropped areas around field margins is kept within reasonable limits.

Long-term Care of the Elderly

Lord Lipsey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) when they plan to announce their response to the Royal Commission on long-term care of the elderly;
	(b) whether they have received any representations on the Royal Commission's report; and, if so, how many; and
	(c) whether any such representations opposed the regulation of long-term care insurance; and, if so, how many.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Secretary of State for Health announced in another place on 2 December that the Government were broadly accepting one of the Royal Commission's main recommendations by establishing a National Care Standards Commission. We are also implementing several of the Royal Commission's other recommendations--such as extending direct payments to people over 65. We are looking at more costly changes as part of the Year 2000 Spending Review, which will be completed this summer. We will then publish a White Paper.
	A large number of representations to the Government on a variety of issues refer to long-term care. Nine hundred and eighty letters to the Department of Health have specifically focused on the Royal Commission's report. Many of the representations have broadly supported the recommendations in the Royal Commission's majority report; others have been critical and some have put forward alternative proposals. The Government will be exploring with the financial industry how they could best design long-term care insurance products to make them attractive to a wider audience.

NHS Doctors: Resignations

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many doctors, other than those who have reached retirement age, have ceased to work for the National Health Service in the years 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999; what percentage of working doctors this figure represents for the year in question; and what is the split of this figure between men and women doctors.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Former NHS Doctors: Resumption of Employment

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to encourage doctors who have ceased to work for the National Health Service, other than those who have retired, to return to National Health Service practice.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government are making progress on modernising services and modernising employment practice in the National Health Service to retain staff. We are developing more supportive, flexible and family friendly working practices; extending and improving investment in lifelong learning and professional development; tackling violence and racism in the workplace; and involving staff in the way services are delivered and in the changes and developments that affect their working lives.
	In particular, the salaried doctors scheme will enable doctors to work in general practice, who would otherwise have to buy into a practice: improvements to the general practitioner retainer scheme will increase the hours that GPs can work while out of mainstream employment and enhance the educational component to ease future reintegration into the workforce; and the Personal Medical Services Primary Care Act pilots will enable a flexible range of employment opportunities to be offered and the development of new ways in which services are delivered.

NHS Sickness Absence 1998-99

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the average number of days of sickness absence taken by (a) nurses; (b) healthcare assistants and nursing auxiliaries; and (c) other employees, in each National Health Service Trust for each Health Service Region in the years 1998 and 1999.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information available centrally is shown in the table. We have agreed national improvement targets in sickness absence rates of 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003.
	
		Average sickness absence rates and estimated number of days of sickness absence for directly employed NHS staff -- England 1998-99
		
			 Region Number of staff (thousand WTE) Average sickness absence rate (%) Estimated annual number of days of sickness absence (million) 
			 England 
			 All staff 730 4.6% 7.8 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery (N&M) staff 245 5.2% 2.9 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 103 7.0% 1.7 
			 Other staff 381 3.8% 3.4 
			  
			 Eastern 
			 All staff 63 4.4% 0.6 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 21 5.2% 0.3 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 11 6.7% 0.2 
			 Other staff 32 3.5% 0.3 
			  
			 London 
			 All staff 122 4.3% 1.2 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 42 5.0% 0.5 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 13 6.0% 0.2 
			 Other staff 66 3.3% 0.5 
			  
			 North West 
			 All staff 107 4.6% 1.1 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 37 5.7% 0.5 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 15 7.0% 0.2 
			 Other staff 55 3.6% 0.4 
			  
			 Northern & Yorkshire 
			 All staff 99 4.7% 1.1 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 34 5.2% 0.4 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 13 6.0% 0.2 
			 Other staff 52 4.2% 0.5 
			  
			 South East 
			 All staff 110 4.0% 1.0 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 36 4.3% 0.4 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 15 5.5% 0.2 
			 Other staff 59 3.5% 0.5 
			  
			 South West 
			 All staff 71 4.4% 0.7 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 24 5.0% 0.3 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 12 6.7% 0.2 
			 Other staff 36 3.5% 0.3 
			  
			 Trent 
			 All staff 77 5.5% 1.0 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 25 5.6% 0.3 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 12 8.7% 0.2 
			 Other staff 40 4.8% 0.4 
			  
			 West Midlands 
			 All staff 80 5.1% 0.9 
			 Qualified nursing & midwifery staff 26 5.4% 0.3 
			 Unqualified N&M staff and healthcare assistants 12 8.3% 0.2 
			 Other staff 42 4.2% 0.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	Estimated days off from sickness absence are based on 230 working days per year per full-time employee.
	Source:
	Department of Health's September 1998 Sickness absence, accidents and violence survey.

Local Election Pilot Schemes

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which pilot schemes have been approved for the May 2000 local elections.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Provisional approval has been given to the schemes that follow. A final decision will be taken on each scheme once the Representation of the People Bill has received Royal Assent. Early voting Blackburn Blackpool Chester Coventry Kingston upon Hull Knowsley (three wards) Manchester Norwich* Pendle Plymouth Redditch St Helens (six wards) Stoke on Trent Sunderland* Telford and the Wrekin (two wards) Watford* All-postal ballots Bolton (three wards) Doncaster (one ward) Gateshead (two wards) Norwich (two wards)* Salford (one ward)* Stevenage (two wards) Swindon (four wards) Wigan (three wards) Electronic Voting/counting Broxbourne Bury (one ward) Salford (two wards)* Stratford on Avon Three Rivers Warrington Extension of postal vote entitlement Amber Valley (two wards) Eastleigh Gloucester (three wards) Milton Keynes Extension of hours of poll Leeds Mole Valley Mobile polling facility Norwich* Sunderland (eight wards)* Watford* Windsor and Maidenhead (two wards) Weekend voting Watford* Freepost Watford* *Councils running more than one scheme.

Police Officers: Whistle-blowing

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce a measure ensuring that police officers are given protection for the disclosure of information in the public interest equivalent to the protection given to workers to make a qualifying disclosure by the Employment Rights Act 1996 as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Guidance issued by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary to police forces under Sections 83 and 87 of the Police Act 1996 makes it clear that police officers have an obligation to disclose wrongdoing by others in the force, and that supervisors and managers should ensure that any officer who makes such a disclosure is not victimised, whether by act or omission. Any officer who is thought to have victimised another officer is liable to misconduct proceedings.

Racism and Xenophobia: Treaty of Amsterdam Definition

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the meaning of (a) "racism" and (b) "xenophobia" in Article 29 (formerly Article K1) of the Treaty of Amsterdam.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Article 29 of the Treaty of the European Union, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam, sets "preventing and combating racism and xenophobia" as an element in achieving the objective of providing citizens with "a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice". The Treaty provides for no definition of the terms "racism" and "xenophobia". In the view of the United Kingdom Government, the terms are to be given their ordinarily accepted meaning, having regard to the context in which they are used. In Article 29, the terms are used more particularly in connection with the prevention and combat of crime.

Police Service Radio Communication Project

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the Police Service Radio Communication Project.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: On 13 January, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary laid before Parliament a departmental minute notifying a non-statutory liability arising from the issue by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) of a letter of instruction to proceed to British Telecom plc. This letter authorised them to invest in the project infrastructure, pending satisfactory conclusions of the final contract negotiations. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary can now confirm that yesterday evening PITO signed a contract with British Telecom plc for the provision of the Public Safety Radio Communications Service (PSRCS) to all police forces in England, Wales and Scotland. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be announcing shortly further details on the scope and timetable of the project.

Afghan Hijack Victims

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the number of Afghan passengers who returned home after the recent hijack corresponded with the estimated number who left Afghanistan against their will.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Seventy-three people, including 15 members of the cabin crew, returned voluntarily to Afghanistan on 14 February. It would be wrong to speculate on whether this corresponds with the number who were victims of the hijacking.

General Pinochet:Home Secretary's Decision

Baroness Gale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have taken a decision in the case of Senator Pinochet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary expects to make a decision in the case of Senator Pinochet at 8 a.m. tomorrow. He will give full reasons for his decision.

Asylum Applications, Northern Ireland

Lord Eames: asked her Majesty's Government:
	How many people applied for asylum in Northern Ireland in 1999; and how many were granted that status.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information on the number of people applying for asylum in Northern Ireland and how many were granted that status is not separately identifiable within the statistics. The available information relates to total applications for asylum in the United Kingdom and those granted that status and can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm

Asylum Applications, Northern Ireland

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to seek the provision of suitable acommodation for those seeking asylum in Northern Ireland who are at present detained in Magilligan or Magheberry Prisons.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The number of persons in Norther Ireland who are seeking asylum and who are detained has always been small. The normal course of action has been to grant temporary admission or bail while their claim is under consideration. The Government have no plans to change this arrangement Because of the small number involved, the Government do not believe that a dedicated detention facility in Northern Ireland would be viable on cost or efficiency grounds. There are also considerable practical difficulties in segregating immigration detainees from prisoners at Magheberry and Magilligan. However, the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Prison Service recognise the difficulties of using prisons for people detained under the Immigration Act 1971 and plan to undertake a joint review of future provision of detention facilities in Northern Ireland. A meeting between the Immigration Service and the Northern Ireland Prison Service is scheduled to take place on 9 March.

Asylum Applications, Turkish Citizens

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish a table showing the number of applications for asylum received, the number granted, the number given exceptional leave to remain and the number rejected in respect of citizens of Turkey in each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, and the number of such applications outstanding at the end of each of those years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions sup2,3 on applications, 1997, 1998 and 1999, nationals of Turkey -- Principal applicants
		
			  ApplicationsDecisions 
			  Total Port in Country Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Total refusals Certified refusals Other refusals 3rd ctry refusals(1) Non-compli- ance refusals(1) Grants of ELR under backlog criteria(1), (1) Non compli- ance refusals under backlog criteria (1), (1)Applica- tions pending 
			 1997 1,445 890 555 1,585 85 25 1,475 65 950 410 50 n/a n/a 4,050 
			 1998 2,015 1,620 390 1,085 40 30 1,015 35 820 110 50 n/a n/a 4,870 
			 1999p 2,850 2,045 805 (1)625 (1)15 (1)* (1)100 (1)0 (1)25 (1)70 (1)* (1)505 (1)5 N/A 
		
	
	n/a=Not applicable and N/A=Not available
	p Provisional data.
	(1) Figures rounded to nearest 5, with *=1 or 2
	(1) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(1) Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
	(1) Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview.
	(1) Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre '96 act asylum backlog.
	(1) May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.
	(1) May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(1) January to May 1999 only.